Finding Our Preschool Rhythm

Rhythm

The basis of all things seems to be the rhythm that we keep. Finding the rhythm in motherhood is a whole different ballgame when you add in homeschooling. Especially with a preschooler, well two of them technically! Preschool for us isn’t a strict curriculum, this month it is about developing a rhythm. It’s about finding the preschool rhythm within the parental chaos.

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We have gone weeks without a set schedule. Lately, I have just been letting my wild things, literally run wild through the house. I know, I should be present with them and focused on them but I just have been super out of it. I feel like I want to give them the world but I have been slacking off instead of pushing forward.

This “school year” things will be different! I say “school year” in quotes because Kbebe is three. At three, I believe, that play should be the center focus. However, my kids crave my attention and a little bit of structure. Plus school supply shopping is fun!

Homeschool

This past weekend I attended the Southeast Homeschool Expo and was blown away by all there was to experience. As a former homeschooler, I knew what programs I didn’t like as a kid but found a few things (as a mom) that I loved! When I was homeschooled, there were limited options. Mostly you homeschooled your kids because you wanted to add in Christian values as compared to Public School. Nowadays there is SO much more out there!

Now, don’t get me wrong, we want to start bringing in our Faith to our home life a little more. But, I want to teach more than Christianity. I believe in allowing my children to find their own spirituality. Keeping an open mind and an open heart is important to me within their education. So as we go along we will incorporate other religions as well. (Sidetracked like whoa, sorry)

At the homeschool expo, I found a few curriculums that I loved. One was called The Homegrown Preschooler, A Year of Playing Skillfully. I absolutely love this curriculum and how it laid out what I was thinking. I found a free trial month that we will be starting in September to see how we like it, but I know I’m going to love it! We also found an awesome music program to help guide me in teaching Kbebe the violin. The Tiny Tots Play A Lot book is one of my favorite parts of our preschool rhythm. Short lessons that will engage Kbebe and keep him interested!

Dedicated Spaces = Dedicated Lifestyle

Finding our preschool rhythm has been a little difficult with the decluttering process still in process. I deep cleaned my office/school area and truly focused on what that rhythm looks like. What did I want to accomplish, what would inspire my children, what would make our rhythm stick?

Right now we try to have toys that serve a purpose. Not quite Montessori minded, more Reggio, and a little bit of Waldorf. I just call it our Chaos Flow. We have sections in the house, the kids have a small play area, I have a small office, and then there are the bedrooms. I guess we are still aspiring minimalists but our declutter process has slowed.

For our preschool rhythm, nothing really changed. I didn’t rush out and buy a ton of stuff and I didn’t print a bunch of worksheets. I just made dedicated spaces and dedicated goals for our day. On our first day, we did Science, Art, Math, home care, handwork, History, Architecture, all through play and exploration. I also added in a “Chore Chart” aka a Rhythm Worksheet for my son. I think it helps to visualize what we are hoping to accomplish.

Enforcing the rhythm using the “Chore Chart” was my goal. Not to really work on punishment/rewards but more so on allowing Kbebe to be a part of the day. I even handmade stickers and am encouraging him to put them on in a pattern. Green star, smiley face, green star, and so on. It is a math activity and a rhythm activity all in one! Handmade as in hand drew and cut them out, preschool doesn’t have to be fancy!

Ok, so I did make a few of my own “worksheets” for him. Basically, I just made the worksheet to encourage reading and color recognition through the art and crafts he already enjoys.

Preschool Rhythm

On the first day our preschool rhythm looked something like this:

Wake Up, Make Bed, Go Potty

Breakfast, Clean Up

I am asking that he put his bowl/plate and utensils in the sink (home-care skill)

Brush Teeth, Get Dressed

I lay out his clothes and encourage him to dress.

Eventually, I will add in his help with laying out his clothes the night before.

Finding Our Rhythm

So far, this is working! As the kiddos grow we will adjust and flow with the chaos. I have no set times other than bedtime. We flow through the parental chaos making our preschool rhythm as we go. Up next this week is all about how the hubs and I are finding our “Adulting Flow”.

As for The Sweetness, she likes Aroma Doh, painting, and coloring. Tomorrow I am focusing all of that for her but with one single color, RED!

(Tip: Snag some Aroma Doh from The Whole Life Co., and use WHOLEHUSTLE for 15% off)

What about you? What does your rhythm look like? Comment on this blog post and/or #showmeyourreal on social media!

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About Bryttany Hyde

wife | mom | hot mess of adulting realness
Bryttany calls herself a wife, mother of two, and a hot mess mom. "I like to keep it real, instead of worrying about what everyone thinks all the time." Together with her family, she is downsizing and sharing their parenting reality as they do so. When not on the blog, you can find Bryttany on social media or in her parenting group on Facebook: The Hydeaway. Thanks for joining our wild ride!

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The information in this weblog is provided “AS IS” with no warranties and confers no rights.This weblog does not represent the thoughts, intentions, plans or strategies of my employer. It is solely my opinion. All photos, content, and videos are the property of Hustle or Hyde unless otherwise noted. Any use without permission is strictly prohibited. Feel free to challenge me, disagree with me, or tell me I’m completely off base in the comments section of each blog entry, but I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason whatsoever (abusive, profane, rude, or anonymous comments) – so keep it polite, please.